Guiding apparatus for eliminating entanglement and twist in puddled multifilament yarn

ABSTRACT

A guiding apparatus for eliminating filament entanglement and twist in a multifilament ribbon of yarn puddled by a gas-operated puddling jet. The apparatus is revolvably mounted on the inlet end of a puddling jet and provides a snubbing action on the yarn whereby the adverse effect produced by the twisting vortex of the jet may be minimized.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee GUIDING APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING ENTANGLEMENT AND TWIST IN PUDDLED MULTIFILAMENT YARN 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 226/97, 28/21 Int. Cl B65h 17/32 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorneys-Cecil D. Quillen, Jr. and William P. Heath, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A guiding apparatus for eliminating filament entanglement and twist in a multifilament ribbon of yarn puddled by a gas-operated puddling jet. The apparatus is revolvably mounted on the inlet end of a puddling jet and provides a snubbing action on the yarn whereby the adverse effect produced by the twisting vortex of the jet may be minimized.

PATENTEU M25 m INVBNTOIS ROBERT BRENT MOORE, JR. w B. BY /fi;

ATTORNEYS Ill-Ill.

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING ENTANGLEMENT AND TWIST IN PUDDLED MULTIFILAMENT YARN The present invention relates to apparatus for puddling the continuous multifilament output of a yarn-spinning machine into a receiving chamber wherein the yarn may be shipped or stored for subsequent processing. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved gas-operated yam-puddling jet having means for minimizing the filament entanglement and twist normally induced by the vortex of the puddling jet.

In the textile industry, it is common to puddle" the continuously extruded multifilament output of a yarn-spinning machine into a container, commonly referred to as a creel can", wherein the ribbon of yarn may be shipped or stored for subsequent processing. Such puddling is often accomplished by passing the multifilament yam, usually in the form of a flat ribbon, through a gas-operated puddling jet which serves to impart a forward momentum thereto. A driving mechanism is usually provided for moving the puddling jet along a predetermined path above the opening in the creel can so as to lay the ribbon in the creel can in a predetermined pattern. In this manner, the creel can may be uniformly and evenly filled and any possibility of entanglement of the ribbon with another portion of its length, as the ribbon is subsequently withdrawn from the can for further processing, may be minimized.

In order to manufacture a multifilament crimped tow having a webbiness characteristic, it is essential that the extruded yarn filaments comprising the tow have a parallel orientation throughout the tow bundle. This parallel orientation must be maintained from the spinning orifices to the tow crimper. Since a tow is normally comprised of a multitude of multifilament ribbons, it is essential that the parallel orientation of the individual filaments of each ribbon be unaltered by any mechanism used in handling the yarn prior to the formation of the tow. Should any of the individual filaments become entangled with other filaments comprising the ribbon, or should any of the ribbons become twisted before being processed with other ribbons to form a tow, the webbiness characteristic of the crimped tow will be degraded because the multifilament ribbons will individually be prevented from opening into a web due to the binding effect of the entanglement and twist. Moreover, the tow, after crimping, will split into a series of crimped ends equal to the number of twisted ribbons comprising the tow. Both of these conditions cause problems when processing crimped tow directly into a card sliver with a Pacific Converter. The splitting will allow one or more of the multifilament ribbons to lag causing clumps of cut fibers in a card sliver or wrapping and breaking of rolls on a Pacific Converter.

It is well known that gas'operated yam-puddling jets have a tendency to produce filament entanglement and twist in the ribbon puddled thereby in the region between the takeoff roll of the yarn-spinning machine and the puddling jet. Some of this entanglement and twist is retained in the ribbon throughout the remainder of the operations required to produce a crimped tow, thereby degrading the tow quality. This jet-induced entanglement and twistmay be attributed to a vortex within the jet in the region where the rapidly moving gas enters the venturi from the plenum chamber. Although efforts have been made to minimize the adverse effects produced by the jet vortex, little success has been realized to date. These efforts have been focused on varying the size and operating conditions of the jet and on various types of holdup bustles on the puddling jet outlet tube; such efforts have met with limited success.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple and reliable apparatus for minimizing filament entanglement and twist in multifilament ribbons of yarn which are puddled by gas-operated jets.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for eliminating filament entanglement and twist in puddled multifilament ribbon of yarn without damaging the individual filaments comprising the ribbon.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled members of the art upon a thorough reading of the detailed description'hereinafter provided.

To accomplish the above-identified objectives, a ribbonguiding apparatus is mounted on the inlet end of a conventional traversing gas-operated puddling jet. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ribbon-guiding apparatus comprises a pair of low-inertia idler rolls, oriented in parallel and positioned, one above the other, in close proximity to the inlet orifice of the puddling jet. These rolls provide a snubbing action on the ribbon just prior to its entry into the puddling jet and thereby prevent the ribbon filaments from becoming entangled with one another and the ribbon itself from twisting about its longitudinal axis. By this arrangement, the jet vortex is prevented from producing the aforedescribed adverse effects on the ribbon in the region between the idler rolls and the takeoff of the spinning machine. The only portion of the ribbon which might be subject to entanglement and twisting is that portion between the idler rolls and the twisting vortex of the jet. By positioning the rolls in close proximity to the jet inlet so as to minimize the distance over which the vortex may act, and by properly tensioning the ribbon by adjusting the spacing between the idler rolls, the adverse effect of the twisting vortex may be minimized.

According to another feature of the invention, a ribboncentering device is provided for preventing the ribbon from becoming disengaged from the guiding apparatus when the jet traverses to a point above the creel can which is remote from the point directly beneath (vertically plumb) the spinning machine takeoff roll. To prevent the centering device from causing an edgewise bending of the ribbon and consequential breaking of filaments when the puddling jet is substantially displaced from the center of the creel can, the centering device, as well as the guiding apparatus, is revolvably mounted on the jet inlet. In this manner, any bending of the ribbon will be across its width, thereby permitting the parallel orientation of the ribbon filaments to be maintained.

A better understanding of the invention may be had upon reference to the drawing and the detailed description of preferred embodiments hereinafter provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas-operated yam-puddling jet incorporating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the gas-operated puddling jet shown in FIG. I taken along the line 2-2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apparatus for puddling a multifilament ribbon of yarn 5 into a rectangularly shaped creel can 50 is shown in perspective and in cross section, respectively. Basically, the apparatus comprises a gasoperated puddling jet 15 which is movable in a plane above the opening in the creel can in a prescribed pattern whereby the ribbon may be laid in the can substantially in the pattern shown. Apparatus for moving the puddling jet in such a pat tern is known in the art, as are gas-operated puddling jets per se, reference being made to US. Pat. No. 3,28 l ,9 l 3, issued on Nov. 1, 1966, to E. A. Morehead et al. The puddling jet itself is one of conventional design having an inlet tube 16 through which the ribbon 5 enters, a plenum chamber 18 into which a gas is introduced through the gas inlet orifice 20 and a venturi tube 22 through which the yarn and gas pass simultaneously. The venturi section comprises a flared entrance portion 23 which communicates with both the inlet tube 16 and plenum chamber 18, a constricted throat portion 24 and a flared outlet portion 25. Depending from the lower portion of the venturi tube 22 is a plurality of spaced flexible fingers 28 which form a holdup bustle 30 wherein the ribbon is temporarily stored in a folded condition after being acted upon by the jet and before being puddled into creel can 50. The major portions of fingers 28 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jet with the free ends thereof being angled toward the jet axis to define a relatively narrow orifice 29 through which the ribbon exits. Fingers 28 are coupled with lower portion of venturi tube 22 by means of a cylindrical collar 31 and setscrews 32 in the manner shown.

Attached to the outer periphery of the jet inlet tube 16 is the apparatus comprising the invention. This apparatus includes a ball bearing 36, a pair of idler rolls 41 and 42 and a ribboncentering device 45. Hearing 36 comprises inner and outer race members 37 and 38, respectively, and a plurality of balls 39 disposed between the race members in a conventional manner. lnner race 37 is press fit to the outer periphery of inlet tube 16. Rigidly attached to the outer race member 38 and extending in an upward direction, parallel to the jet axis, is an arm member 40 on which both idler rolls 41 and 42 are rotatably mounted. The rolls are spaced apart, disposed one above the other over the entrance aperture 16a of inlet tube 16, and extend normal to the jet axis. Disposed above the uppermost idler roll 41 is the centering device 45 which comprises a bar 46 extending parallel to the axis of rotation of rolls 41 and 42 and a pair of spaced fingers 47 which extend perpendicularly from the bar as shown. One end of bar 46 is rigidly mounted on the arm member 40.

In operation, continuous groups of filaments 2 emerge from each of a plurality of spinning cabinets 3 and are advanced at a uniform rate by one or more Godet rolls 4 to form a multifilament ribbon 5. Takeoff roll 6, positioned vertically above the center of creel can 50, advances the ribbon to the puddling apparatus. Ribbon is threaded across opposite sides of the two low-inertia idler rolls 41 and 42 which serve to provide a snubbing action on the ribbon. The ribbon is then fed into the inlet tube 16 of puddling jet and then fed through the venturi tube 22. As ribbon S enters the venturi tube entrance 23, it is met by a rush of gas escaping from the plenum chamber 18 through the venturi tube 22. This rush of gas may generate a vortex which exerts a twisting force on the ribbon 5. Without the presence of the apparatus comprising the invention, this vortex would produce entanglement of the filaments comprising ribbon 5 and multiple twists in the ribbon itself throughout the region between takeoff roll 6 and the jet vortex. However, because of the presence of idler rolls 4] and 42 and the snubbing action produced thereby on ribbon 5 immediately prior to its entrance into the jet inlet tube 16, the normal entangling and twisting action of the jet vortex is prevented from producing such a result in that portion of the ribbon above the idler rolls. By arranging idler rolls 41 and 42 in close proximity to the jet entrance aperture 16a and by adjusting the spacing between the idler rolls to produce tension in the ribbon between the idler rolls and the jet venturi, the twisting vortex of the jet will'have minimum effect on the ribbon after it passes the idler rolls. The ribbon then passes through the venturi throat 24 at which point the high-velocity gas imparts a forward momentum thereto and carries the ribbon into the holdup bustle 30. As the ribbon enters the holdup bustle, the speed and kinetic energy of the ribbon cause it to fold upon itself. The major part of the motivating gas is then dissipated at right angles to the jet axis, through the spacing between the flexible fingers 28 forming the holdup bustle. The folded ribbon is gradually forced through the holdup bustle by the continuous entry of more ribbon therein and finally falls from the exit aperture 29, substantially under its own weight into the creel can 50.

As jet 15 traverses over the opening of creel can 50 and moves away from the point directly beneath takeoff roll 6 (i.e. the center of the can) and in a direction toward one of the creel can ends 50a, there is a tendency for the yarn to slide off the edges of idler rolls 41 and 42. This tendency is checked by the fingers 47 of centering device 45. Fingers 47 engage the ribbon as it slips toward the edges of the roller and cause it to maintain continuous contact with the roll surfaces. When, however, jet 15 is substantially displaced from vertical plumb, there is a tendency for the edge filaments of the ribbon to bunch together against one of the fingers 47. Such bunching together of i the edge filaments produces broken filaments which are, of course, a quality defect. This difficulty is overcome by virtue of the fact that rolls 41 and 42 are free to revolve about the jets longitudinal axis via their connection with the outer race 38 of the ball bearing 36. As the puddling jet 15 traverses away from the center of creel can 50, a turning moment is applied to the outer race member 38 of the ball bearing 36. This turning moment is produced by the jet-induced tension in the multifilament ribbon 5 and the angle the ribbon 5 is displaced from the vertical by the traversing puddling jet 15. As the puddling jet traverses away from the point directly below the feed roll 6 (zero turning moment on puddling guide) toward a position of maximum turning moment, the increasing turning moment on the puddling jet guide will cause the idler rolls 41 and 42 to revolve such that the multifilament ribbon 5 is maintained in a flat band of parallel filaments from takeoff roll 6 into the inlet of the puddling jet l5. Alignment of the idler rolls 41 and 42 is done continuously and automatically by the turning moment of the multifilament ribbon 5 to maintain the ribbon 5 in a flat band of parallel filaments at all positions of the puddling jet traverse.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, the snubbing action produced by idler rolls 41 and 42 could be achieved simply by replacing the idler rolls with one or more nonrotatable snubbing bars. Moreover, any mounting means which permits the snubbing apparatus to revolve in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of the travel of the ribbon is considered within the scope of the invention. For example, instead of mounting arm 40 on ball bearing 36, it could be readily attached to one end of a coil spring which extends parallel to the jet axis and has its other end rigidly mounted on the jet inlet tube 16. Any turning moment produced by ribbon 5 would thus cause the spring to coil tighter or looser, depending on the position of the puddling jet, and thereby permit the ribbon to bend in a direction normal to its width across the idler roll surfaces.

lclaim: 1. In combination with a fluid-operated yarn-puddling jet including means defining an entrance aperture through which a length of yarn may pass and means for impinging a high-energy fluid onto said yarn so as to. generate a forward momentum of the yarn,

snubbing means, positioned immediately before said entrance-aperture-defining means, for preventing said fluidimpinging means from inducing a twist in said yarn,

means for coupling said snubbing means with said puddling means for moving said puddling jet in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of said yarn, and said coupling means comprises a ball bearing and an arm member on which said snubbing means is mountable, said bearing having inner and outer race members which are indepen dently revolvable with respect to each other, said inner race member being rigidly coupled with said entranceaperture-defining means of said jet and said outer race member being rigidly coupled with said arm.

2. In combination with a fluid-operated yarn-puddling jet including means defining an entrance aperture through which a length of yarn may pass and means for impinging a high-energyfluid onto said yarn so as to generate a forward momentum of the yarn,

snubbing means, positioned immediately before said entrance-aperture-defining means, for preventing said fluidimpinging means from inducing a twist in said yarn, and being rotatable in a plane normal to the direction of travel of said yarn, means including an arm member for coupling said snubbing means with said puddling jet, said snubbing means comprising at least one pair of low inertia rollers and means is provided for rotatably mounting said rollers on said arm member in such manner that the axes of rotation of said rollers are parallel to each other and are normal to the direction of travel of said yarn. 

1. In combination with a fluid-operated yarn-puddling jet including means defining an entrance aperTure through which a length of yarn may pass and means for impinging a high-energy fluid onto said yarn so as to generate a forward momentum of the yarn, snubbing means, positioned immediately before said entranceaperture-defining means, for preventing said fluid-impinging means from inducing a twist in said yarn, means for coupling said snubbing means with said puddling jet, means for moving said puddling jet in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of said yarn, and said coupling means comprises a ball bearing and an arm member on which said snubbing means is mountable, said bearing having inner and outer race members which are independently revolvable with respect to each other, said inner race member being rigidly coupled with said entrance-aperture-defining means of said jet and said outer race member being rigidly coupled with said arm.
 2. In combination with a fluid-operated yarn-puddling jet including means defining an entrance aperture through which a length of yarn may pass and means for impinging a high-energy fluid onto said yarn so as to generate a forward momentum of the yarn, snubbing means, positioned immediately before said entrance-aperture-defining means, for preventing said fluid-impinging means from inducing a twist in said yarn, and being rotatable in a plane normal to the direction of travel of said yarn, means including an arm member for coupling said snubbing means with said puddling jet, said snubbing means comprising at least one pair of low inertia rollers and means is provided for rotatably mounting said rollers on said arm member in such manner that the axes of rotation of said rollers are parallel to each other and are normal to the direction of travel of said yarn. 